Ready for a different way of working: meet Travel Counsellor Mandy Gathercole

For Mandy Gathercole, becoming a Travel Counsellor is the next chapter in a travel career that has already spanned decades, different sectors of the industry and even a move away from city life.

With experience across leisure, wholesale, corporate travel, groups and incentives, Mandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her new business. But after several years working largely in isolation, she was ready for something different: the opportunity to build a business of her own, create greater flexibility in her life and still have the support, technology and community of a wider team behind her.

We caught up with Mandy to find out more about her journey, what motivated her to become a Travel Counsellor and what she hopes to achieve as she grows her business.

What is your background and where did you work before becoming a Travel Counsellor?

I have been in travel since completing my Diploma in Travel and Tourism in 1988. I have worked for leisure, wholesale and corporate agencies and assisted with groups and incentives. I also spent many years working for a large corporate as their Travel Manager. I had a break from travel and relocated to the Free State, where my husband and I started a small guesthouse. I was approached by an agency where I had previously worked and assisted them from 2023 until joining Travel Counsellors in August 2026.

Tell us a little bit about yourself – family, hobbies, pets, interests and places you’ve travelled.

I am married to Mark and have a stepson, Darren, and stepdaughter, Storme. I have a beautiful Wheaten Scottish Terrier named Jock and a cat named Kimmi. I have been to Dubai, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Paris and the United Kingdom, as well as around South Africa.

I feel very much at peace living in the mountains with our magical sunrises and sunsets. I enjoy walking, reading, tennis, yoga and socialising with my friends. I listen to my favourite music when I want to relax, when I am cooking and when I am in the mood to dance.

What does becoming a Travel Counsellor mean for you?

I believe I will have a better work/life balance and be able to continue travelling with my husband and Scottish Terrier. My travel knowledge will increase and I will be able to better serve my clients.

Having access to everything on my phone is a great initiative, as I previously only had access to my emails but still needed to be on my laptop to action any booking requests. My marketing will be more visible in the community and on social media, with more appealing content. I am very excited to be starting this new venture in my life.

What motivated you to start your own travel business?

As the old saying goes, people follow people – and this is so true in the travel industry. I am passionate about service and have established some of my own clients, but believe I can grow from here on.

I want to be available for my clients when they need me, but still have some flexibility and improve my work/life balance. I appreciate the support and camaraderie from Travel Counsellors whilst still allowing me to be my own boss.

What are you looking forward to most about being a Travel Counsellor?

I am looking forward to increasing my knowledge and also interacting with the team, as I have been working in isolation for the past few years without much communication.

From what I have seen, the business tools are phenomenal and I can’t wait to start using them.

Have you set yourself any goals or milestones for what you want to achieve in your first year?

I would like to double my leisure client base and bring in at least two corporate clients. I would love to meet my colleagues in person and hope to be able to travel.

Have you started planning how you will grow your business and find new customers, and if so, how?

I will continue to market my business within our local community – we have a lot of WhatsApp groups, being in a small town – and also on Facebook.

I have a lot of contacts in my personal capacity from when I lived in Johannesburg, so will also promote my leisure business more with them. I will also ask for referrals and testimonials from my existing clients.

I plan to contact some businesses in the region and through my contacts to see if I can increase my corporate client base.

What do you love most about working in the travel industry?

I love the people in the industry and how resilient we are. I love helping clients plan their trips. I am fascinated with aircraft and how they fly. Travelling broadens your knowledge.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Egypt – I am fascinated with the ancient Egyptians and would love to travel down the Nile in a steamboat and visit sites such as Abu Simbel. I would love to see the pyramids.

A new chapter, backed by a community

Mandy’s story will resonate with many experienced travel professionals who love what they do but want greater freedom over how they do it.

Starting an independent travel business doesn’t have to mean working in isolation or building everything from scratch. For Mandy, becoming a Travel Counsellor means having the independence to grow her own client base and shape her working life, while benefiting from the technology, marketing, business support and community around her.

And with clear ambitions for her first year, decades of industry experience behind her and an enduring passion for helping people travel, Mandy is ready to see where this next chapter takes her.

If you’re an experienced travel professional who would like to build a business of your own while still having a team behind you, becoming a Travel Counsellor could be your next chapter too.